How many duck eggs did you get today?

[Supercow]

4 regular and 6!!! Softies. All time record from 8 ducks.

It's possible I'm driving them too hard - giving food that's too stimulative. The temps are in the 90 s again... The ducks should probably focus more on feeling cool and happy in this somewhat difficult environment.

 

[Miss Lydia]

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[Miss Lydia]

4 regular and 6!!! Softies. All time record from 8 ducks.

It's possible I'm driving them too hard - giving food that's too stimulative. The temps are in the 90 s again... The ducks should probably focus more on feeling cool and happy in this somewhat difficult environment.

What food are you giving them?

 

[Supercow]

What food are you giving them?

- 50% of pellets that are 20% protein, 5% calcium

- 50% of pellets that are 13% protein, 2.5% calcium (a bit strange but that's what was available at some time)

- some buckwheat for variety since they like it

- whatever veggies and critters they forage over the day (dandelion, yarrow, clover, slugs, bugs...)

They eat about 100-120 g of pellets per duck per day.

 

[Canadian Wind]

I've lost count. Since reporting the one egg last Saturday, there are now 14 in the nest box as of this morning!!! I'm quite certain more than one of the ducks is laying.

 

[Miss Lydia]

- 50% of pellets that are 20% protein, 5% calcium

- 50% of pellets that are 13% protein, 2.5% calcium (a bit strange but that's what was available at some time)

- some buckwheat for variety since they like it

- whatever veggies and critters they forage over the day (dandelion, yarrow, clover, slugs, bugs...)

They eat about 100-120 g of pellets per duck per day.

13%protein is way too low. I'd stick with the 20% protein and if you need to finish off the one bag mix it together but hopefully they are also getting protein when out foraging too.
https://homesteadsavvy.com/why-are-my-ducks-laying-soft-shelled-eggs/

 

[Supercow]

13%protein is way too low. I'd stick with the 20% protein and if you need to finish off the one bag mix it together but hopefully they are also getting protein when out foraging too.
https://homesteadsavvy.com/why-are-my-ducks-laying-soft-shelled-eggs/

Yes, that's what I'm doing currently , 50-50 mixing the bags. The lower protein / calcium one will soon be done and we're getting a batch of the higher-everything ones.

 

[Supercow]

... But you know, we're now talking about how to have hard instead of soft shells on all the eggs -- whereas to my mind the problem is that some ducks are laying twice per day and I would like to avoid that for their long term health. That's why I was talking about the food maybe being too stimulative.

 

[Miss Lydia]

That can happen when they first begin to lay. But usually once everything gets working properly it doesn't happen often. I have been seeing a few soft shells or whats left of one [chickens] get to them before me, But I chalk it up to age most of mine are 7 yrs and older. Still eating the same layer and getting oyster shell when they want it. I've never heard of the feed causing over stimulation but I guess it's possible. As far as I know I've never had one of mine lay more than one egg at a time. Hopefully someone else can address that issue.

 

[Texag87]

Is it to hot for anyone to post here ? It was 101 when I put the ducks up last night at dusk.

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